Post #1
The rig will probably suffer damage. The power ground is just one
ground rod which is insufficient to get all that energy into the
earth. A radial system, as described in our catalog (Appendix A)
is really what's needed. Nevertheless, you fail to indicate how
you connected to that ground rod. Anything less than #2 is not
going to work too well; even #2 is the bare minimum, with 2/0 the
suggested minimum if wire must be used. 1.5"-wide copper strap is
better than even 2/0. While 4/0 would be best (wire-wise), it is
probably more difficult to work with that than strap. Again, the
size of the connection is all but academic if you don't have a
good lightning ground.
You need to protect all your I/Os: RF, telco, ac, etc. You didn't
indicate if these other I/O's were protected. Again, if not,
you'll probably have damage to the rig from one of those sources.
Post #2
Yes, you can disconnect everything as per VUD, but that will NOT
protect you. Is a tree conductive or grounded? No. Yet lightning
will go through a tree if it needs to. Lightning is a constant
current source and will develop as much voltage as it needs to
achieve its goal, which is to equalize the potential gradient
between the cloud and its mirror image on the earth. I believe
the Hustler is a shunt-fed (dc-grounded) antenna. This usually
helps in a lightning situation. What probably happened is that
the surge energy found its low inductance path to achieve its
goal (which, again, is potential equalization) without "seeing"
your equipment. Next time, it may "see" your equipment as the
desired path because the mirror image just discussed is located
at a location where your coax line and equipment is the desired
path.
Realize that VUD is NOT controlling the path the surge energy
will take. So far this person has been lucky. At some point, his
lucky streak (pun intended) will end. By properly protecting and
grounding YOU control where the energy will go. That is the crux
of the PolyPhaser Philosophy.
Of course VUD can increase his chances by installing a #1 Iron
golf club at the top of his tower. As Lee Trevino once exclaimed,
"not even God can hit a #1 Iron." (This IS a joke for those who
may think otherwise.)
Hope this helps!
Sincerely and 73,
Bob Wanderer AA0CY
Senior Applications Engineer
PolyPhaser Corp.
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